Results 21-40 of 265 for speaker:Michael Brennan

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2006)

Michael Brennan: Everybody was entitled to use all reasonable force to defend his or her home and the lives of others and his or her property.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2006)

Michael Brennan: That was the legal position. We can all reflect with regret on the mid-1990s when this entitlement was put into question by people who changed the law such that in that certain circumstances force could not be used and people had to request——

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2006)

Michael Brennan: If the Opposition agrees, we are prepared to bring forward that legislation.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (1 Nov 2006)

Michael Brennan: I move: "That Seanad Éireann: recognises that Ireland's record levels of economic and population growth creates the challenge of meeting record housing accommodation demand across the country; notes the Government's ongoing commitment to a modern planning system, which is strategic in approach and reflects the requirement for sustainable development and which delivers a performance of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2006)

Michael Brennan: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, to come before the House to discuss the Water Services Programme 2005 to 2007. As we are now halfway through the programme, we should discuss progress and in some cases the lack thereof at both local authority and departmental level. Some counties have taken two years to prepare...

Seanad: Company Closures (27 Sep 2006)

Michael Brennan: I thank Senator Finucane for sharing his time on this matter. He has given a detailed explanation of the situation pertaining to Castlemahon Foods and pointed out that the company has been a major employer for the past 50 years in an area heavily dependent on agriculture. I join my colleague in asking the Minister of State to offer every assistance at his disposal in safeguarding the jobs...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael Brennan: I, too, welcome the passing of the legislation and offer our sincere thanks to the Minister, his officials and all personnel in this Chamber.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael Brennan: It is great to see Members of all parties and none give their co-operation and strength to the Minister in the legislation he has brought before this House. It is great to see the high esteem in which the Minister is held by all Members of this House. We thank him sincerely for this legislation and wish him well for the future.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael Brennan: In this historic week I call on the Leader to congratulate the Government and President Mary McAleese for an extension of the centenarians bounty to people living outside this country. The first emigrant to benefit from such an extension of the scheme is Ms Mary Kelly, who was born in Askeaton, County Limerick and resides in New York. She is one of 30 applicants who will receive this payment...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Brennan: Recently, much has been said about the importance of the national census. Will the Leader discuss with the appropriate authorities the issue of the non-return of 300,000 forms where enumerators could not gain admittance to households or collect forms? What action has been proposed regarding the missing data?

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

Michael Brennan: I second the amendment. The subject of the motion, like many of those before us in recent weeks, reflects a source of genuine anxiety and concern among the public, not just among first-time buyers but also their parents and families, and among the many people coming to live in our country. The Labour Party motion is welcome in that it provides an opportunity to discuss this serious topic. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Michael Brennan: I second Senator Morrissey's proposal regarding No. 7, the Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006. I agree that householders should not be penalised for acts of self-defence carried out on their own property. Over the past 12 months all sides of the House have welcomed the €5.1 billion water services investment programme. I call on the Acting Leader to invite the Minister for the...

Seanad: Local Authority Operations: Motion. (24 May 2006)

Michael Brennan: I second the motion. As Senator Dardis has set out the issues mentioned in the motion at length, I intend to dedicate my time to the specific subject of large development levies and special development levies imposed by local authorities. I wish to make clear the Progressive Democrats' view that planning authorities should ensure that developers make an appropriate contribution towards the...

Seanad: Lone Parents: Statements. (23 May 2006)

Michael Brennan: Births to teenagers make up 3% of the total.

Seanad: Lone Parents: Statements. (23 May 2006)

Michael Brennan: I thank Senators for a short but comprehensive debate. Most of the issues were raised on the floor of the House. I appreciate hearing them and will take them on board. Having had this debate there may be an opportunity for a similar debate in the Dáil. Following our forum, I propose to keep in touch with the lone parent associations as we develop legislation. During the course of the year I...

Seanad: Lone Parents: Statements. (23 May 2006)

Michael Brennan: I thank the Seanad for providing me with the opportunity to speak about the proposed reforms to the support arrangements for lone parents and low-income families. These proposals are the culmination of a year-long, comprehensive analysis and consultation process on the levels of social exclusion and risk of poverty faced by many lone parents and their children. They have been set out in a...

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (17 May 2006)

Michael Brennan: I welcome the Minister of State to this House. My party colleague, Senator Dardis, outlined our views on waste management. I commend the Government on the progress made towards ending the discharge of untreated sewage from cities and towns, providing projects for secondary treatment and meeting the requirements of the urban waste water directive. This week, the Minister for the Environment,...

Seanad: Child Care Services. (6 Apr 2006)

Michael Brennan: I wish to share time with Senator Finucane, if that is agreeable.

Seanad: Child Care Services. (6 Apr 2006)

Michael Brennan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate him on his new responsibilities as regards the child care programme and his recent allocation of €12 million for 62 new projects as well as the inclusion of €575 million in the 2006-10 national child care investment programme. The total funding committed to the previous scheme, the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP,...

Seanad: Child Care Services. (6 Apr 2006)

Michael Brennan: The Minister of State stated that it is open to groups to appeal through Pobal and to agree revised plans in the not too distant future. Will he elaborate on this point? Does he speak in terms of size or in terms of phase 1 or 2 of the project?